Thursday, October 7, 2010

Creole Meatballs and Spaghetti + Festival Preview

Here's one of my favorite recipes that was handed down to me from one of my dear aunts. I have many fond memories of eating this wonderful dish,  over at her home on the bayou. These were and still are, the best meatballs that I've ever eaten and when I tell you that they are out of this world, then you know that I mean it,  cher! The basic sauce is also her recipe, with a few tweaks of my own! Le bon manger! Enjoy!


Meatballs
1 1/2 lbs. ground round beef
1/2 lb. ground pork
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup each, bell peppers and celery, finely chopped
2 tsp.'s garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped, optional
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 or 2 tbs.'s Creole or Cajun seasoning
Salt and Tabasco to taste

In medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, and Wor. sauce. In large, separate  bowl, combine meat with all remaining ingredients. Combine the egg mixture with the meat and mix well. Shape mixture into 2 inch balls. Arrange meatballs in baking pan and bake @ 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once halfway. Meanwhile make sauce.


Sauce
1 large onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
2 tbs.'s olive oil
2 small cans sliced mushrooms, drained
1 large can, diced tomatoes
1 can, Rotel tomatoes w/green chilies
1 small can tomato paste
1 small can tomato puree
2 small cans tomato sauce
2 tbs.'s Worcestershire sauce
1 cup water 
3 bay leaves
1 tbs. Italian seasoning
Salt and Tabasco, to taste 
1 lb. spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package directions, rinsed and drained

Saute "the trinity" in olive oil, in large Dutch oven, on medium heat until soft. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato puree, and tomato sauce, and cook for 10 more minutes, stirring often. Slowly add water and simmer for 10 minutes, mixing well. Add garlic, mushrooms,  Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, parsley, and seasonings, and bring to a boil. Lower heat, add meatballs, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  Serve over spaghetti, top with grated Parmesan cheese, with a big tossed salad and garlic bread!
Bon appetit!

*******
Festival Acadiens et Creole Preview




At long  last, it's the weekend we've been looking forward to for a whole year! It's time for Festival Acadiens et Creole, my absolute favorite festival of all! Three glorious days of nothing but great Cajun and Creole music, food, and fun! Festival de Musique, Bayou Food Festival, Louisiana Arts and Crafts Fair, Louisiana Folk Roots, and so much more! Come on out and enjoy everything that this fantastic festival has to offer. See ya'll there! 



This year's festival will be dedicated to the one and only Wayne Toups, an Acadiana legend and master accordionist.  Wayne's energetic and innovative style, blends traditional Cajun music with Zydeco and rock, making him one of the most influential musicians of our time. His passion for his Cajun heritage, and his originality, shine through in every song, making him one of the most popular artists, among young and old fans, alike. Loved by all, there's no standing still, when Wayne's on the stage! Geaux Wayne!




And don't forget the pre-festival Bach Lunch, to be held from 11:00am - 1:00 pm, in Parc Sans Souci, on Friday, October 8th. The Canes will entertain the crowd. And a little later, at Parc International, beginning at 6:00pm, there is a kick- off party, with a fais do do, at Parc International, with two of the best bands around, The Lost Bayou Rambler's and Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole. Come on out and get into the festival spirit, it's guaranteed to be one of the best times that you will ever have! For a complete schedule, click here


Here is a clip that I took of Wayne Toups, playing at last year's festival. Heavy rains came overnight, and turned the dance area into a sea of mud, but that didn't stop these Cajuns from having their fun! This one's for you, Janice! Lassiez les bon ton rouler, cher!

Wayne Toups and Zydecajun


Stay tuned! Wish you all were here! Merci beaucoup for coming by!

29 comments:

nanny said...

More good food and More Fun....when do you rest? ha

Those meatballs look fantastic!!!!

Joanne said...

I love the way the dancers came prepared, with their boots ... Nothing's stopping the dancing at this festival! Rock on, Marguerite.

Chef Dennis Littley said...

I do love good meatballs!! It looks like you are having too much fun!! Wish I was there!!

kitchen flavours said...

Wow, it looks that you are having fun, fun, fun! Yummy delicious food too! With all the dancing going round, you don't have to worry about all the calories! Perfect excuse to dig in more glorious food! The meatballs look yummy!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

The spaghetti sauce recipe looks very much like mine. I have never thought of putting cajun seasoning in meat balls. Guess what I'm going to try real soon! It's getting cold here now, a good time for some hot and spicy meatballs.

Arlee Bird said...

Wow! I've been craving spaghetti and meatballs here lately and now you gotta show me creole meatballs and spaghetti. Woman, you are heartless! I really need some of that.

Lee
Tossing It Out

fuat gencal said...

Çok leziz, çok güzel ve iştah açıcı görünüyor. Ellerinize, emeğinize sağlık.

Saygılarımla.

Drick said...

never have Cajun spaghetti nor meatballs, meatloaf yes ... the meatballs are out of sight and the sauce would be great for so many things... together, just perfect, your aunt knew a thing or two didn't she...

Mehmet Osman Çağlar said...

Bonjour Marguerite! Beatiful photos, delicious food and a big fun...What can i want from god ?!

Wishing you a happy weekend and more fun, mon cher ami! Love and hugs, Zhivago

Kat said...

Never had Creole Meatballs! They look delicious. I know what you will be doing all weekend! Have a good one.

Talli Roland said...

This is the second food post in a row that I've read and I'm starving!

Funny, I also come from the land of the original Acadians - Nova Scotia, part of l'Acadie! There is still quite a bit of French spoken there, although it's more a strange mish-mash.

Eddie Bluelights said...

Those meatballs look 'something to die for' . . . oh! divine . . . I must give the recipe to Mrs Bluelights - cannot trust myself to avoid creatin a chunk of charcoal LOL

I am really drooling over this!
Glad you are scheduled to have a marathon three day ball - enjoy yourself, cher and look forward to seeing a video of you dancing . . . please LOL. Hugs ~ Eddie

Velva said...

I was planning to make meatballs this weekend. I think I know which one I am going to prepare-Yours!!! Cajun meatballs, I love it. Thanks for the recipe/idea.

A Kitchen Witch said...

Ooooh! My mom and I were just talking about my Granddaddy's creole spaghetti and this reminds me so much of his recipe. He uses jalapenos to spice things up! I really want my mom to send me his recipe. I'd love to compare his to your aunt's recipe! He's from Alexandria and I just love his cooking : )

Jeni said...

I love looking at the pictures of various foods (and recipes for them) that you post but sadly, all too many of them won't grace my table because I know in advance they are items the grandkids won't touch with a ten-foot-pole. (Thank you so much to autism food pickiness, ya know!) But this recipe -cajun meatballs and spaghetti -now this one fills the bill completely and will definitely be a part of our dining experience in the near future! (The kids do love spaghetti and will eat meatballs too! Yay! Yay!)

Keep writing these posts and sharing the menu suggestions too. At least I can look and drool lovingly and think too that maybe some time in the distant future these kids will experience changes to their tastebuds too!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Mon cher amie, I am taking this recipe home with me!!! Simply fabulous!!! And a bonus since I ADORE pasta of any kind!!!! Do a little dancing this weekend for me, dear Marguerite...so wish I could join you!!! ~Janine XO

Marguerite said...

nanny- In between festivals, but even then, there is always something going on. lol Thanks, hope you try them!

Joanne- The only time they will shut a festival down, is if it's raining sideways and there is lightning! Wish you were here, cher!

Dennis- These meatballs are divine and I hope that you try them! This festival is a blast and I wish that you were here, too. Thanks for stopping by!

kf- You are absolutely right about that! And the food at this festival is fabulous! I will be posting pics, so stay tuned! Thanks, glad that you like them!

Karen- Thanks, these meatballs are the best and the Rotel tomatoes really kick up the sauce a notch! So happy that you want to try them! Enjoy!

Lee- Just sharing a little Cajun gold, cher! They are easy to make, so I hope that you give them a try! Thanks for coming by! Have a great weekend!

Rosaria Williams said...

You got the best of the old and new world cooking up here!

Nancy said...

The spirit of fun lives on in Cajun Country!

Cloudia said...

I feel like
i am there!




Warm Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

Kathryn Magendie said...

Wayne Toups - I heard'a Wayne Toups!

I thought of you yesterday - we were making homemade pizza and i'd seen on Alton Brown where he grilled tomatoes and then spread them on pizza dough - so, I put the tomatoes in the broiler until soft then added in herbs and whatever and then spread on pizza dough - then cheese and fresh basil - and OHHHHH so GOOOD!

K. said...

I wish I were there, too! I wish I were in your dining room and I wish I could dance off the food to the great music. Some day...

Warren Baldwin said...

You make me want to go down there for a visit and to eat some great food!

Magic of Spice said...

What a great dish...I don't eat meat but I do know a great recipe when I see one :) And that last video...I am going to have to look them ups, love that guys voice!

Marguerite said...

Fuat- Thanks so much for the nice compliment and for coming by!

Drick- That's hard to believe, lol, but you can fix that very easily, cher! Just follow the recipe and enjoy! Thanks, she was one of the best!

Jhivago- Merci beaucoup for your lovely comment, cher! It was a blast and I wish that you could have been here! Resting today! lol

Kat- Then you are in for a treat, cher! Hope you give them a try! You are right about that! Merci, lots of dancing, and it was so much fun!

Talli- Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment! lol I know, I loved reading about your trip home! My French Acadian ancestors were in Nova Scotia in 1603! Thanks for coming by!

Eddie- Thanks so much for the sweet compliments, cher! So glad you liked the meatballs and hope that Mrs. Bluelights will make them for you! It was a dancing marathon and I am in several of the videos! lol

Eddie Bluelights said...

Pleeeeease tell me which videos you are in . . . LOL . . or would you prefer to keep me guessing? Mmm thought so LOL.
Very pleased you are having a ball Cinderella, but remember to return before the clock strikes 12 LOL
Love the way all your readers have entered the spirit of the Cajun life and we all love to see you enjoying yourself. You are a great friend! Hugs ~ Eddie

Eddie Bluelights said...

PS I thought I'd put a shirt and tie on for you LOL

Anonymous said...

thanks for this nice post 111213

Laura D. said...

I stumbled upon this post while looking for Creole Spaghetti recipes and this one looks like just what I need. In the sauce recipe when it says small cans, does that mean 8oz. cans or 15oz. cans? I just want to make sure that the picture I have in my head is the correct one. :-)